Obituary of M.L. Northup
Mass of Christian Burial for Dr. M.L. Northup, 92, of West Okoboji, Iowa, will be 10:30 am Thursday, September 13, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Visitation will begin at 3 pm, Wednesday, September 12, 2018, with the family present from 5-7pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Interment will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Humboldt at 1 pm, Friday, September 14, 2018, with a reception to follow at 1:30 pm at St. Mary's School.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Iowa Dept of the Blind, 524 4th St., Des Moines, IA 50309 in memory of Maurice L Northup.
Maurice Leland Northup, Jr. was born on June 18, 1926 to Maurice L. Sr. and Mary (McGovern) Northup in Des Moines, Iowa. During his early years, his nickname was "Junior". While visiting his Aunt Vausie in California she began calling him Morrie and the nickname stuck. He graduated from Dowling Catholic High School in 1944 with Aquinas Key (highest honors).
Morrie enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and served his country from 1944-1946 as a tail gunner on a B-29. After an honorable discharge, he made his way to St. John's University in Collegeville, MN graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Morrie then furthered his education at the University of Iowa, College of Medicine graduating with his medical degree in 1954. He interned for a year in Phoenix, AZ at St. Joseph's Hospital. Morrie returned to Iowa to start his private practice in Humboldt. He practiced there for 36 years and had the joy and honor of delivering over 3,000 babies. He loved the community of Humboldt as well as all of his patients.
During his college days at St. John's, he met the love of his life, Eileen Westrup. While in medical school, he and Eileen married on June 30, 1951 in Winsted, MN. They lived in Iowa City, Phoenix, and then made their home in Humboldt where they raised their four children.
Morrie was active in the American Medical Association, Humboldt County Medical Society, The Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, and he was the first lay deacon of the Sioux City Diocese. Morrie enjoyed fishing and especially Canada trips and golfing everywhere. Together, Morrie and Eileen loved football trips with the crew, all the fun times while wintering at Apache Wells in Arizona, summers on West Lake Okoboji, golf and dinner with the Swingers Golf Club and spending time with family.
In 2003, Morrie's life changed when Macular Degeneration took much of his vision. It was then that Eileen became the driver and Morrie the navigator. Much of his time was spent on the computer playing FreeCell, Quicken bookwork, and listening to books on tape.
He passed away on September 8 at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake, Iowa at the age of 92.
He is survived by his children, Tom (Denise) Northup, Linda (Jack) Schaben, Bob (Teri) Northup, and Mary (Rod) Hawkins ; 9 grandchildren, Adam(Sara) Northup, Ben Northup, Josh (Jen) Schaben, Alyssa (Beau) Naatjes, Jackie Northup, Rob Northup, Hannah (Michael) Rebollozo, Houston Hawkins, and Halleigh Hawkins; two great grandchildren, Brooke Naatjes and Beckett Naatjes; his brother, Jack Northup, many cousins, nieces and nephews. As well as his beloved friends and patients.
Maurice is preceded in death by his parents, Maurice Sr. and Mary Northup and his beloved wife, Eileen. He is finally home with his "Peaches".
The final script Doc has for everyone is...don't forget your 5 o'clock happy hour!
